I spent a portion of my afternoon yesterday assisting the Society of American Military Engineers Scholarship Committee choose recipients for our scholarships. Hundreds of high school seniors applied for one of our five awards, most of them hoping to pursue a career in the engineering field. The field of hopeful candidates was narrowed down to a dozen, and from there, we had to pick the five most worthy applicants.
As I sat there reading through these kids’ resumes and lists of activities and accolades, I was a bit overwhelmed. And I seriously thought for a moment, “Wow, Elliot and Ethan better start getting more serious if they want to have a chance at getting a scholarship someday!”
For one thing, it seems like a 4.0 GPA just isn’t what it used to be. Apparently, GPAs are weighted to favor AP and advanced classes, allowing students to potentially earn a 5.0 GPA. I took almost all AP classes when I was in school, and I totally don’t remember that…who knew?
And don’t forget the extracurricular activities! Students not only excel in sports, but they volunteer to coach younger students as well. And play the cello. And study Russian language. And enter robotics competitions and build 3D computer models. And serve as officers in Key Club and National Honor Society. And teach Sunday School classes at their church. And the list goes on!
I just can’t see myself forcing my kids to be hyper-achieving super students, and if this means they might not get scholarships due to their lack of skills in translating Mandarin and glazing pottery, then so be it. (Thank goodness their college funds are performing well!) I want them to pursue the hobbies that truly excite them…to push themselves physically in sports for the simple pleasure of moving their bodies and playing with their friends…to apply themselves to intellectual studies for the joy of learning about the Creation around them…to serve others with empathy and graciousness for God’s glory. If that means they’ll be merely ‘average’, then I guess I’ll be the exceedingly proud mom of two average, wonderful kids.
3 comments:
Amen to THAT!
Although, I have to say that if the desire to do all those things truly comes from THE CHILD, then I think the parents should do everything possible to support that desire. I too was one of those straight-A, AP class, involved-in-everything kinds of kids....but my parents never once forced those things upon me. Actually, they often said 'No, sorry, but you CAN'T take up anything else.'
Having said that, I don't really see that doing all those things got me much in Life, other than the enjoyment of being 'involved' at the time. I have plenty of friends/family who were not outrageously involved as me, and they're all wonderful, loving, well-adjusted, intelligent people. As long as parents focus on the importance of those character traits, the details of whether the child is 'involved' or not will take second place.
Oh, and the weighted grading thing for AP classes is still a sore subject for me. That came into my school system my senior year, but wasn't retrospectively applied. So the classes I'd been taking already for three years weren't weighted, and students who got A's in things like underwater-basket-weaving ended up as 4.0 (or higher) GPA Valedictorians, and my 'measly' little 3.98 from all my college-level classes (started at the age of 15, thank you very much!) meant I wasn't credited with those honors at graduation.
Which was over 15 years ago.
Not that I'm petty, bitter, or carrying a ridiculous, immature grudge that I should really have dropped years ago. ;-)
I love this!!!!! I couldn't agree more, coming from an "average" student!!! :)
I just found your blog via crazy or determineds blogs. You are frigging FUNNY!
My boyfriend just went to an awards banquet for his son who won some awards. He was FLOORED when this one girl kept going up there for all these scholarships.
It is just play crazy how super driven these kids are all while learning multiple languages and solving world peace. :)
Hope you found good kids for those scholarships!
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